<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Kemper
Variable Series- Index 500 Portfolio Semiannual Report for the six month period
ended June 30, 2000 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000810573
<NAME> KEMPER VARIABLE SERIES
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 026
<NAME> KVS INDEX 500 PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 72,477
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 75,031
<RECEIVABLES> 396
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 75,427
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 271
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 30
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 301
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 73,264
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 69,859
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 29,513
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 158
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (860)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 2,563
<NET-ASSETS> 75,126
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 303
<INTEREST-INCOME> 79
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 149
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 233
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (689)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 740
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 284
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (255)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (255)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 50,515
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (8,006)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 509
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 42,793
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 179
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 84
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 121
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 326
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 54,112
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 1.10
<PER-SHARE-NII> .01
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.02)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.01)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 1.08
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .55
</TABLE>
